Nineteen additional positive test results today. Brings the cumulative total up to 12,518
The number of cases in the City has increased from 62 to 65.
The rate /100k population is now 30.86. This is the first time it has been over 30 since late March.
However, following another 24 positive test results on Tuesday, the rate is expected to hit around 47 over the weekend.
Neighbourhoods
12 neighbourhoods now have 3 or more cases in each
Vaccinations
Little progress has been made with first jabs in the City over the last few days. Only 159 injections over 3 days. It has been suggested that inadequate supplies of the Moderna/Pfizer vaccine are to blame. This is the preferred jab for the younger cohort (Under 30’s) who are currently next on the list for an injection.
Second dose vaccination numbers are holding up well, with more than 50% of the population likely to have been inoculated by the end of the weekend.
The neighbourhood level progress reports on vaccinations have been published today. We are publishing both the first dose and the second dose outturns.
The second dose table is probably the most important given government advice that both doses are needed to get maximum protection.
There is a wide variance between the area with the highest proportion of vaccinated adults (Haxby, 70.5%) and the lowest (Tang Hall 27.1%).
This can mostly be explained by the variance in age profiles with those neighbourhoods with large student populations (aged under 25) not due to get most of their first doses until towards the end of the month
Tests
4763 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 5th June
Of these, 1.3% proved to be positive. This is an increase on the previous figure of 1.2%
In addition 3124 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 9th June
Outbreak Management Board
Some new information emerged at yesterday’s COVID management board meeting.
There has been a substantial growth in the City of cases of the COVID-19 variant which originated in India. It is expected, like elsewhere, to become the dominant strain over the next few days.
The Council are not advised of the vaccination status of those testing positive for the virus. They rely on national stats which say that only small numbers of vaccinated people fall victim to the virus.
The largest number of new cases are currently being found in the 10 -19 age group
Most tests currently involve school children.
The Council cannot say what proportion of positive tests are from people who are asymptomatic.
There is a lack of public awareness that free home testing kits are available.
There has been no local follow up of people who may have come into contact with someone who has the disease. More extensive tracing will start shortly. There will be an option for contacts to have daily tests rather than have to quarantine at home.
There may be a dedicated vaccination centre set up at the University of York when the programme moves on (possibly next week) to the 18 – 25 age group.
Consideration is being given to setting up a vaccinate hub in the City centre (although take up rates in the City are relatively high)
One additional COVID-19 patient being cared for by the Hospital Trust. This bings the total back up to three.
There is now one patient in intensive care; the first placed there for over 10 days.
The latest government figures, covering the period up to 28th May, confirm that there have been no deaths from COVID-19 in any setting in York since April
Test results
Twenty-four new positive test results were announced today. That is the largest for over two months. It brings the total up to 12,518
19 of the “positives” were recorded at tests conducted on Monday. That may be linked to the return to school after the half term. The authorities have not commented so far on the spike. The 19 positive test results are the highest single day figure seen since 8th March – ironically that was the same day as schools re-opened to all pupils
Two additional cases today bring total up to 62. That figure relates to the week ending 4th June and so precedes the surge in case numbers seen this week.
The spike in case numbers means that the case rate /100k is 29.44 and is, unfortunately, trending to reach 39.4 before the end of the week.
The increase in infection rates in York mirrors a similar trend at North Yorkshire, regional and national levels.
A council spokesperson has commented “we have seen the bulk of transmissions occur within homes and between people who do not maintain social distance”
Neighbourhoods
Eleven neighbourhoods now have 3 or more cases
Vaccinations
We have heard from the Council who say that they “don’t know” what proportion of the current positive cases in the City had previously received one or two doses of vaccine. Most cases are apparently in the younger age groups and are therefore less likely to have been vaccinated (but the authorities really should know what proportion of victims have had a jab)
Tests
4482 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 4th May 2021
Of these, 1.2% were found to be positive. That is less than the 1.3% found during the previous period.
In addition, 1735 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 8th June.
On street testing in York
Council to hand out more tests to York residents
City of York Council has announced the latest streets it will be handing out testing kits to as part of efforts to keep the city safe and open.
Council staff will be once again visiting communities in the city offering testing kits to residents and encouraging them to test themselves twice a week. This will support the Council’s efforts to increase the number of people being tested for COVID to identify symptom-free cases and stop the spread of the virus.
It is not as the result of increased cases in that area or the presence of a variant of concern. It represents the latest drive to make testing more accessible and frequent. As they have done throughout this project, staff will have Council ID cards for identification and will be handing out free tests and advice, so residents will never be asked to pay.
The team will be going out and about on Wednesday 9 June and Friday 11 June this week.
On Wednesday 9 June the teams will visit properties in Eldon Street, Eldon Terrace, Markham Crescent, Neville Street, Neville Terrace, Nelson Street, Stanley Street.
On Friday 11 June the teams will be out on Warwick Street, Walpole Street, Haxby Road north of Walpole Street, White Cross Road, Vyner Street, Fountayne Street, Briggs Street, Scaife Street, Scaife Gardens.
This work further supports Council’s other efforts to get people tested:
Continuing to offer testing kits to employers in the city so that staff can get tested.
Continuing to offer in-person testing and collection service at the University of York, York St John University, York Leisure Centre at the York Stadium Leisure Complex, Acomb Explore and Foxwood Community Centre.
Continuing to offer in-person testing at St William’s College with residents, employees and visitors able to access this service.
The number of COVID-19 patients being treated by the York Hospital Trust has increased to three. There have been no further deaths. The pandemic total remains at 592
Test results
Thirteen new positive test results announced today. Brings the cumulative total up to 12,484.
Case numbers in City rise to 59. That is the largest number seen since 28th March
Rate /100k increases to 28.0. Infection rate trend is still upwards
Neighbourhoods
Vaccinations
The Council has written to employers in the City in the following terms
Dear Employer,
Firstly we want to say thank you for everything you have done and continue to do to help your workforce stay safe during the pandemic and to help stop coronavirus from spreading.
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on so many lives and livelihoods and we acknowledge how difficult this past year has been for businesses.
However we are asking you to do more to help control the spread of the virus and help ensure the safety of your workforce by supporting the roll-out of the COVID vaccination programme. As well as this being the right thing to do to support the safe re-opening of the City, there is good evidence to suggest that it makes good economic sense too. A vaccinated workforce will significantly reduce levels of sickness and improve productivity and is, therefore, good for business. A business case developed by Public Health England is attached with this letter.
The vaccines being used in the UK are safe and effective and are already having a significant impact in helping to stop the spread of the virus, reducing the number of infections and hospital admissions and saving lives.
Please do everything you can to support your workforce to be able to attend a vaccination appointment by giving them paid time off work for their appointment or by allowing them to work their hours flexibly so they can get their vaccination without loss of wages. We have been contacted by a number of residents who have explained that not being able to take paid time off work is a major barrier to them being vaccinated since they cannot afford to lose pay. We are aware that some employers are already going the extra mile to support their staff but for those employers who have not yet done so we respectfully urge you to review your policies and make any changes necessary to be able to support all of your staff to have easy access to vaccination without the risk of losing out financially.
Thank you for your support. If you require any further information or to discuss what additional support we may be able to give you please contact enquiries.publichealth@york.gov.uk addressing your query to the Director of Public Health.
Yours sincerely
Sharon Stoltz, Director of Public Health, City of York Council
Dr Nigel Wells, Clinical Chair, Vale of York CCG
Dr James Taylor, Medical Director, York Hospital
Tests
4521 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 2nd June 2021
Of these, 1.2% were found to be positive. That is the same proportion as were found during the previous period
In addition, 3890 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 6th June 2021
Fourteen addition positive test results announced today. Brings cumulative total up to 12,463. Thirteen positive test results were found last Thursday (3rd June). That is the highest single day number recorded since 25th March
The number of cases has reduced by one to 55 today
The rate /100k population figures is now 26.1. It is expected to rise to over 28.5 during the next few days
Neighbourhoods
Vaccinations
The current priority continues to be on administering second jabs. It is likely that the recommended interval between first and second vaccinations will be reduced from 12 to 8 weeks.
Nationally, the media are saying that the availability of first jabs may be extended to over 25’s sometime this week.
Tests
4410 PCR tests were completed during the week ending 31st May 2021
Of these, 1.3% were positive. That is more than the 1.2% positive found during the previous period.
The “positivity rate” has risen from a low of 0.4% recorded on 19th May, to more than three times that figure today
1575 “lateral flow” tests conducted on 4th May.
The York Council is being asked to provide more information on the nature of the positive test results being found. In particular, the age groups of those infected, whether they are displaying any symptoms, whether any have had one of two doses of vaccine and – in the light of the increased numbers of children who have been found to be infected this week – what special arrangements have been made to ensure that the return to school next week is conducted safely.
With a further easing of restrictions still likely later in the month, the meeting below may review in some detail what “track and trace” responses tell us about where cross infections are most likely to be occurring,
Patients numbers are stable and there have been no further hospital deaths
Test results
Ten more positive test results today. Brings cumulative total up to 12,449
The number of cases in the City has increased from 52 yesterday to 56 today. It is expected to edge up to over 60 cases early next week
Rate /100k population increases to 26.6. That is the highest rate seen since 28th March.
Case numbers continue to rise slowly at national, regional and local levels. York still below the national infection rate
Neighbourhoods
There are now 11 neighbourhoods with three or more cases in each
Vaccinations
Tests
4887 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 30th May 2021
Of these, 1.2% were found to be positive. That is higher than the 1.1% found during the previous period
2008 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 3rd June
According to the Council, there are 6 York University students currently isolating following a positive test. That is the same number as the previous week.
There are also 19 school children isolating. That is more than double the 8 found to have tested positive during the previous week
The data is accurate as at 8.00 a.m. on Friday 04.06.21. Some narrative for the data covering the latest period is provided here below:
People with Covid Symptoms
• NHS Pathways/111 triages – as at 31.5.21 there had been 65 total covid triages in the CYC area in the last 7 days. The peak number of triages was 653 in the 7 day period to 20.9.20.
• As at 3.6.21, the Covid Symptom App estimates 14 per 100,000 in York with symptomatic covid (responses from a sample of 3,821 people). The peak rate was 1,283 on 7.1.21.
Diagnosed cases
• As at 3.6.21 York has had 12,439 cases since the start of the pandemic, a rate of 5,906 per 100,000 of population. The cumulative rate in York is below the national (6,975) and regional (7,334) averages. Cases identified through Lateral Flow Tests will be removed if they have a negative follow up PCR test within 72 hours so the cumulative total of cases can, on occasions, go down.
• The PHE ‘Exceedance’ rating compares the no. of new cases over a 14 day period with the previous 6 weeks and provides a RAG rating to indicate if the previously observed trend in the number of new cases is worsening. The latest rating for York (31.5.21) is Amber. In recent weeks the number of cases have been low in York which has an effect on the thresholds used to determine the RAG rating – a small change can mean the difference between a red, amber and green rating.
• The provisional rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 26.5.21 to 1.6.21 in York is 25.2 (53 cases). (Using data published on Gov.uk on 3.6.21).
• The latest official “validated” rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 23.5.21 to 29.5.21 in York was 24.7 (52 cases). The national and regional averages at this date were 32.4 and 38.5 respectively (using data published on Gov.uk on 3.6.21).
• York is currently ranked 85th out of 149 Upper Tier Local Authorities (UTLAs) in England with a rank of 1 indicating the lowest 7 day rate.
• For the 7 day period 22.5.21.to 28.5.21 the number of cases in each ward varied from 0 to 7 and rates varied from 0 to 57.1 per 100,000. 6 wards had zero cases.
• The rate of new Covid cases per 100,000 of population for the period 23.5.21 to 29.5.21 for people aged 60+ in York was 12.1 (6 cases). The national and regional averages were 7.6 and 7.3 respectively.
• As at 1.6.21, the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 PCR tests only) was 1.73%. The national and regional averages are 2.1% and 2.6% respectively.
• As at 1.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 2 Lateral Flow Tests only) was 0.12%. The national and regional averages are 0.2% and 0.2% respectively.
• As at 1.6.21 the latest 7 day positivity rate in York (Pillar 1 tests only) was 0.5%. The national average is 0.3%.
• As at 21.5.21 York University reported 6 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test. The peak number was 331 on the 19.10.20.
• As at 17.5.21 York St. John reported 0 individuals within the University community who were currently self-isolating because they have had a positive COVID-19 test. The peak number was 82 on the 8.10.20.
Contact Tracing
• Local Contact Tracing. Between 10.3.21 and 28.5.21, 252 referrals had been actioned by the local contact tracing service. Of the referrals actioned, 235 (93.3%) were successful and 17 (6.7%) were unable to be reached via phone or home visit, but guidance leaflets were posted where possible. (NB on the 10.3.21 the local CYC team became responsible for contacting all cases rather than just those that the national team could not contact).
Cases in Residential Care Settings
• As at 28.5.21 there were 0 care homes in the CYC area with confirmed Covid-19 infection (at least 1 case of either a staff member or resident).
• The latest ‘outbreak’ (2+ cases) in a residential care setting in York were reported by PHE on 25.2.21 (1 home).
Cases amongst School Aged Children
• In the 7 days up to 31.5.21 there were 19 children of primary or secondary school age who tested positive (across 8 different schools).
COVID Bed Occupancy in York Hospital
• As at 1.6.21 there was 1 confirmed Covid-19 patient in a General or Acute bed. The peak number was 157 on 19.1.21.
• As at 1.6.21 there were 0 confirmed Covid-19 patients and 0 suspected Covid-19 patients in the Intensive Treatment Unit. The peak number for people in ITU was 19 on 10.5.20.
R Number
• The ‘R’ value (the number of people that one infected person will pass on a virus to, on average) for the North East and Yorkshire area on 28.5.21 was estimated to be in the range 0.8 to 1.0. The previous estimate was (0.8 to 1.0) on 21.5.21.
Variant of Concern
• Data from Public Health England shows that in York, up to 2.6.21, there have been less than five confirmed cases of the Delta Variant of Concern (VOC-21APR-02) which was first identified in India.
Total Vaccinations
• As at 2.6.21 a total of 119,722 CYC residents have had the first dose of the vaccine. This represents 56.8% of the estimated total population of York and 68.8% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.
• As at 2.6.21 a total of 79,477 CYC residents have had both doses of the vaccine. This represents 37.7% of the estimated total population of York and 45.7% of the estimated adult (18+) population of York.
Deaths
The two sources about deaths from Covid-19 at LA level are ONS data and local registrar data. They are derived from the same source (civil registration data). ONS data is more comprehensive as it includes deaths of York residents which have occurred and been registered outside York. Local registrar data provides a breakdown by age and gender. The most recently available data is summarised below:
• ONS Weekly data: In the most recent period (Week 20: 15.5.21 to 21.5.21) 0 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents. In weeks 17, 18 and 19 there had been 1, 0 and 0 deaths respectively.
• ONS Cumulative data: Since the start of the pandemic, for deaths occurring up to 8th May 2021 and registered up to 29th May 2021, 396 Covid-19 deaths were recorded as having occurred for CYC residents (228 in hospital, 135 in care homes, 25 at home/elsewhere and 8 in a hospice). The number of deaths per 100,000 of population in York is 188.02 which is lower than the national average of 232.28
• Age / Gender breakdown (using registrar data): The average age of the CYC residents who died was 82.1, with an age range of 44-104. The age profile of the CYC residents who have died is older than the national average (79.5% were aged 75+ compared with 73% nationally). 47.9% of the CYC residents who died were male. The national average is 54.4%.
&/or you can forward an email of support to the Lord Mayor at civic@york.gov.uk
Background
In recognition of the work undertaken by professionals, key workers, and volunteers during the Coronavirus pandemic in York, the City Council is asked to offer the Freedom of the City to NHS York.
This is a simple way for the City of York to say “thank you” to the many people who have “gone the extra mile” during the very challenging circumstances of the last year. It is suggested that recognition of key NHS staff is one way of highlighting the work of all key sector workers in the City.
The granting of the Freedom of the City is an ancient privilege most often exercised when recognising military units. The last award was made in 2015 to the Queens Gurka Signals.
We hope that you will feel able to support the petition which asks for the Freedom of the City to be offered to NHS York on behalf of all those key workers and volunteers who have contributed towards getting us through the COVID-19 pandemic.
There has been no change to the number of COVID-19 patients being cared for by the York Hospital Trust. There have been no deaths at the hospital since 20th April 2021.
However, the historic records have now been updated to record a death that occurred in May 2020. This means that the cumulative death toll now stands at 592.
The latest government figures confirm that there have been no deaths of York residents during May in any setting.
Test results
Eleven new positive tests today. Brings cumulative total up to 12,439
The number of cases in the City has increased to 52. That is the highest level seen since 26th April
The rate /100k population rises to 24.69.
Case numbers continue to rise at all levels.
Neighbourhoods
Detailed figures are not yet available. However, nine neighbourhoods now have 3 or more cases in each. They are;
Holgate West
Holgate East
Rawcliffe and Clifton South
City Centre
Tang Hall
Heworth South & the Groves
Heworth North & Stockton
Strensall
Wigginton
Vaccinations
The latest neighbourhood vaccination figures have been released. They show a big jump in the number of under 30’s who have had their first jab. 8205 had been vaccinated up to 30th May 2021.
The area with the highest vaccination rate (92.0%) is still Wigginton, but the area with the lowest vaccination rate (Tang Hall) has seen the proportion who have has their 1st jab increase from 39% to 41% over the last week.
Tests
4652 PCR tests were conducted during the week ending 29th May 2021
Of these, 1.2% were positive. That is an increase from the 1.0% found during the previous period. It is the highest infection rate found since 29th March 2021.
In addition, 2340 “lateral flow” tests were conducted on 2nd June 2021.
No change in numbers today at the York Hospital Trust
Test results
Four positive test results today brings the cumulative total up to 12,428.
The number of cases in the City has reduced from 46 to 45
The rate /100k population is now 21.37.
Neighbourhoods
There are now now eight neighbourhoods with 3 or more cases in each
Vaccinations
Tests
4608 PCR tests were conducted in the City during the week ending 28th May.
Of these, 1.0% were found to be positive. That is an increase over the 0.9% found positive during the previous period. The results mean that the proportion of people testing positive in the City has doubled in less than a week. (0.5% were found to be positive during the week ending 23rd May)
1918 “lateral flow” tests were also conducted on 1st June 2021
